GOALKEEPER Andy Dibble's career is not under threat despite the serious arm-break he suffered at Peterborough United on Saturday. If it had been, even the hammering the Dragons had to endure at London Road would have paled in comparison to that sad news.

The 38-year-old veteran has not been every supporter's favourite since he arrived at the Racecourse two summers ago but he has been a massive influence at the club, both on and off the field.

And while no one is indispensable, his absence for the remainder of the season will leave a huge gap at the club which Smith will struggle to fill.

The former Welsh international may no longer be as agile or quick as he was during his years at the top, but his bravery and will to win are matched only by his almost obsessive attitude to his job - both in training and in match-day situations.

And there could be no greater illustration of that commitment to his job than the manner of the 16th-minute accident. He came charging off his line in a bid to close down striker Calum Willock, who had easily turned young defender Craig Morgan.

The two men collided and its severity was obvious by the distressed reaction from Carlos Edwards, who immediately signalled for a stretcher.

What effect Dibble's injury had on his colleagues and their subsequent performance is difficult to quantify. But the goal-keeper would never condone his misfor-tune being used as an excuse for the inept display which followed.

It certainly wasn't easy for substitute Paul Whitfield taking his place behind a back three lacking the experience of the suspended Brian Carey and Steve Roberts.

Alarm bells had already been ringing as both Shaun Pejic and Morgan struggled to cope with the pacy United front men.

But Racecourse boss Smith admitted he was disappointed with his side's response.

"We took the lead practically straight after, but I'm not going to criticise individual players," he said afterwards.

"I never do that, but there were mistakes made. On these occasions you find about certain players. There were things going on out there. Certain players were out of their depth.

"I wasn't very complimentary about the performance. One strength we've had is being solid at the back but if you take three out of the back five you've got your-self a problem. "I've always said we'll do well this season if I can keep away from injuries and suspensions. I've got both at the moment and I think the results are reflecting that."

Smith's over-riding concern, however, was for Dibble.

"I think the result proves how good Andy has been for us," he added.

"He's out for the rest of the season and at 39 we've got to question how bad it is after that. Whatever it is, it's serious. My heart goes out to the lad because he's been brilliant for me this term."

Whether Dibble would have been able to stem the United tide is as debatable as it is immaterial.

His early save from Curtis Woodhouse was routine enough and when Wrexham's Paul Edwards hit the post at the other end, an entertaining encounter looked likely.

Unfortunately for the visitors and their 350-odd fans, it was overwhelmingly onesided. Even after United goalkeeper Mark Tyler gifted Chris Llewellyn a 21st-minute lead, failing to hold his cross from the byline and allowing the ball to slip under his body and into the net.

Two minutes later the home side were level when a Tommy Williams free-kick dissected the six-yard box and the ball found its way into the net with Willock an unsettling presence. The striker claimed a touch to make it five goals from four games but Wrexham's inability to clear the initial threat was worrying.

Elsewhere on the pitch, they were not pulling up trees either. Their passing was inept, their tackles lacked the bite of the opposition's and they were rarely first to the second ball.

Willock and Clive Platt, thriving on United's route one approach, were giving Morgan and Pejic a torrid time and it was no surprise when Whitfield found himself picking the ball out of the net again in the 32nd minute.

To be fair the Wales under- 21 international did well to get down and parry Willock's close-range header when the striker easily out-jumped Pejic, but Platt reacted quickest and slammed home the rebound.

Carlos Edwards might have equalised three minutes later but he wanted too much time and was dispossessed by Mark Arber's finely-judged tackle from behind before David Farrell squandered an equally inviting chance from Platt's low cross.

Smith must have been grateful to get his players in the dressing room without any further damage, but whatever was said at the break fell on deaf ears.

Willock took advantage of a Dennis Lawrence mistake to make it 3-1 after 56 minutes and it was game over five minutes later when Morgan's clumsy foul on Platt gave Sagi Burton the opportunity to show off his dead ball skills. He hit a curling free-kick into the top corner.

Wrexham's lack of communication was highlighted by a quickly-taken Darren Ferguson free-kick. Intended for Llewellyn, who had his back to the captain, the ball rolled harmlessly through to Tyler and minutes later the former Norwich man should have put an otherwise quiet Chris Armstrong through on goal. His pass, which summed up the general malaise, was cut out by Guy Branston.

Home manager Barry Fry emphasised his side's domination by replacing both Willock and Platt. And substitute Andy Clarke's first touch produced the fifth goal on 69 minutes when he turned in Adam Newton's right-wing cross.

The rout was completed with what must have seemed a long 14 minutes left for the visitors. Another terrible mistake - this time Carlos Edwards was at fault - allowed Farrell to run clear and beat Whitfield with consummate ease.

It might have been worse but Burton's ambitious long-range effort curled just wide and Farrell mis-kicked from close range following more excellent play from Clarke.

And Wrexham were denied even a crumb of comfort when Armstrong's 90th-minute shot rebounded from the angle of the goal frame.

It was only United's third home win in 20 matches and the result surprised even Fry, whose side have benefited from the input of recently-acquired part-time coach Bobby Gould, a former Wales boss.

"It was a real team effort and Bobby Gould has done great for us," said Fry. "The crowd and the lads appreciate that and it was a combined effort.

"I was delighted to give the fans a victory at long last at home with a lot of quality attacking play and some good goals.

"A fortnight ago I didn't think any of us would have thought three straight wins was possible.

"But the lads have stuck together, ground out a couple of results away from home and that gave us the confidence to carry that on today."